---
title: Select Field
label: Select
order: 160
desc: The Select field provides a dropdown-style interface for choosing options from a predefined list. Learn how to use Select fields, see examples and options.
keywords: select, multi-select, fields, config, configuration, documentation, Content Management System, cms, headless, javascript, node, react, nextjs
---

The Select Field provides a dropdown-style interface for choosing options from a predefined list as an enumeration.

<LightDarkImage
  srcLight="https://payloadcms.com/images/docs/fields/select.png"
  srcDark="https://payloadcms.com/images/docs/fields/select-dark.png"
  alt="Shows a Select field in the Payload Admin Panel"
  caption="Admin Panel screenshot of a Select field"
/>

To add a Select Field, set the `type` to `select` in your [Field Config](./overview):

```ts
import type { Field } from 'payload'

export const MySelectField: Field = {
  // ...
  // highlight-start
  type: 'select',
  options: [
    // ...
  ]
  // highlight-end
}
```

## Config Options

| Option                 | Description                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| ---------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`name`** \*          | To be used as the property name when stored and retrieved from the database. [More](/docs/fields/overview#field-names)                                                                       |
| **`options`** \*       | Array of options to allow the field to store. Can either be an array of strings, or an array of objects containing a `label` string and a `value` string.                                    |
| **`hasMany`**          | Boolean when, if set to `true`, allows this field to have many selections instead of only one.                                                                                               |
| **`label`**            | Text used as a field label in the Admin Panel or an object with keys for each language.                                                                                                      |
| **`unique`**           | Enforce that each entry in the Collection has a unique value for this field.                                                                                                                 |
| **`validate`**         | Provide a custom validation function that will be executed on both the Admin Panel and the backend. [More](/docs/fields/overview#validation)                                                 |
| **`index`**            | Build an [index](/docs/database/overview) for this field to produce faster queries. Set this field to `true` if your users will perform queries on this field's data often.                  |
| **`saveToJWT`**        | If this field is top-level and nested in a config supporting [Authentication](/docs/authentication/overview), include its data in the user JWT.                                              |
| **`hooks`**            | Provide Field Hooks to control logic for this field. [More details](../hooks/fields).                                                                                                        |
| **`access`**           | Provide Field Access Control to denote what users can see and do with this field's data. [More details](../access-control/fields).                                                           |
| **`hidden`**           | Restrict this field's visibility from all APIs entirely. Will still be saved to the database, but will not appear in any API or the Admin Panel.                                             |
| **`defaultValue`**     | Provide data to be used for this field's default value. [More](/docs/fields/overview#default-values)                                                                                         |
| **`localized`**        | Enable localization for this field. Requires [localization to be enabled](/docs/configuration/localization) in the Base config.                                                              |
| **`required`**         | Require this field to have a value.                                                                                                                                                          |
| **`admin`**            | Admin-specific configuration. See the [default field admin config](/docs/fields/overview#admin-options) for more details.                                                                    |
| **`custom`**           | Extension point for adding custom data (e.g. for plugins)                                                                                                                                    |
| **`enumName`**         | Custom enum name for this field when using SQL Database Adapter ([Postgres](/docs/database/postgres)). Auto-generated from name if not defined.                                              |
| **`dbName`**           | Custom table name (if `hasMany` set to `true`) for this field when using SQL Database Adapter ([Postgres](/docs/database/postgres)). Auto-generated from name if not defined.                |
| **`typescriptSchema`** | Override field type generation with providing a JSON schema                                                                                                                                  |
| **`virtual`**          | Provide `true` to disable field in the database. See [Virtual Fields](https://payloadcms.com/blog/learn-how-virtual-fields-can-help-solve-common-cms-challenges)                             |

_\* An asterisk denotes that a property is required._

<Banner type="warning">
  <strong>Important:</strong>
  Option values should be strings that do not contain hyphens or special characters due to GraphQL
  enumeration naming constraints. Underscores are allowed. If you determine you need your option
  values to be non-strings or contain special characters, they will be formatted accordingly before
  being used as a GraphQL enum.
</Banner>

## Admin Options

The customize the appearance and behavior of the Select Field in the [Admin Panel](../admin/overview), you can use the `admin` option:

```ts
import type { Field } from 'payload'

export const MySelectField: Field = {
  // ...
  admin: { // highlight-line
    // ...
  },
}
```

The Select Field inherits all of the default options from the base [Field Admin Config](../admin/fields#admin-options), plus the following additional options:

| Property                       | Description                                                                                                                              |
| ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`isClearable`**              | Set to `true` if you'd like this field to be clearable within the Admin UI.                                                              |
| **`isSortable`**               | Set to `true` if you'd like this field to be sortable within the Admin UI using drag and drop. (Only works when `hasMany` is set to `true`) |

## Example

`collections/ExampleCollection.ts`

```ts
import type { CollectionConfig } from 'payload'

export const ExampleCollection: CollectionConfig = {
  slug: 'example-collection',
  fields: [
    {
      name: 'selectedFeatures', // required
      type: 'select', // required
      hasMany: true,
      admin: {
        isClearable: true,
        isSortable: true, // use mouse to drag and drop different values, and sort them according to your choice
      },
      options: [
        {
          label: 'Metallic Paint',
          value: 'metallic_paint',
        },
        {
          label: 'Alloy Wheels',
          value: 'alloy_wheels',
        },
        {
          label: 'Carbon Fiber Dashboard',
          value: 'carbon_fiber_dashboard',
        },
      ],
    },
  ],
}
```

## Customization

The Select field UI component can be customized by providing a custom React component to the `components` object in the Base config.

```ts
export const CustomSelectField: Field = {
  name: 'customSelectField',
  type: 'select', // or 'text' if you have dynamic options
  admin: {
    components: {
      Field: CustomSelectComponent({
        options: [
          {
            label: 'Option 1',
            value: '1',
          },
          {
            label: 'Option 2',
            value: '2',
          },
        ],
      }),
    },
  },
}
```

You can import the existing Select component directly from Payload, then extend and customize it as needed.

```ts
import * as React from 'react';
import { SelectInput, useAuth, useField } from '@payloadcms/ui';

type CustomSelectProps = {
  path: string;
  options: {
    label: string;
    value: string;
  }[];
}

export const CustomSelectComponent: React.FC<CustomSelectProps> = ({ path, options }) => {
  const { value, setValue } = useField<string>({ path })
  const { user } = useAuth()

  const adjustedOptions = options.filter((option) => {
    /*
      A common use case for a custom select
      is to show different options based on
      the current user's role.
    */
    return option;
  });

  return (
    <div>
      <label className="field-label">
        Custom Select
      </label>
      <SelectInput
        path={path}
        name={path}
        options={adjustedOptions}
        value={value}
        onChange={(e) => setValue(e.value)}
      />
    </div>
  )
}
```

If you are looking to create a dynamic select field, the following tutorial will walk you through the process of creating a custom select field that fetches its options from an external API.

<VideoDrawer
  id="Efn9OxSjA6Y"
  label="How to Create a Custom Select Field"
  drawerTitle="How to Create a Custom Select Field: A Step-by-Step Guide"
/>

If you want to learn more about custom components check out the [Admin > Custom Component](/docs/admin/components#field) docs.
